I’ve shared a watermelon cucumber salad on the blog before, but I’m not done sharing more variations of how to eat watermelon this summer (I’m obsessed). Last summer, our friends Paul & Christine had friends over for lunch and served this as a side at their cookout. It was by far my favorite part of the meal, but honestly anything with basil and feta usually is. I hope this refreshing salad makes it into your summer recipe rotation. Despite the simplicity of the recipe, the richness of the ingredients make it taste more complex, it’s a real crowd pleaser!

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Stir in orzo and return to a boil; cook until done, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain orzo and rinse under cold water; allow to drain completely. Once orzo is cool, toss with remaining ingredients in a serving bowl. Enjoy!

If you’re not careful, you may miss it. The subtle change that lead us into a new season, the in-between time that is worth paying attention to. The magical time before everyone starts wearing sweaters and buying pumpkin-flavored-everything. I want to soak in the small transformations and enjoy what bits of summer are still left with us. I wish I could bottle up this time of year — when the leaves start changing, the breeze starts getting cooler, but I can still buy a delicious watermelon for less than $3 and enjoy it while the sun is still out in the evening.

The tastes and smells of summer are always what I crave far more than summer itself. Long before the temperature ever becomes excruciatingly hot, I’m day dreaming about all the produce and delicious al fresco meals that can be made in those few glorious months. Cold watermelon, crisp cucumbers, fresh corn, juicy blueberries, sweet strawberries — these are the real tradeoffs & treasures for sweating nearly every time you step outside of your house.

While the next few weeks still may be warmer than I’m bargaining for, I want to use up every bit of their worth and tasty goodness. One more picnic, one more batch of popsicles, one more salad that I can only make this time of year. All while the temperatures are dropping, breezes are blowing, and leaves are spinning & changing into new colors right before me. Watching summer fade into fall makes my heart swirl, all of my favorite things happening at once, but not for long. Don’t miss it or miss out! Here are a couple end of summer recipes to help you celebrate all the best flavors before they are gone!